Scouring device



Dec- 20, 1938- A. M. GooDLoE 2,140,578

SCOURING DEVI C E Filed June 3, 1937 vyvyvgyvvvy INVENTOR. "l-y ffeljQaaaZZae ATTORNEY.

PatentedA Dec. 20, 1938 7 PATENT OFFICE SCOUBJNG DEVICE Alfred M.Goodloe, Roanoke, Va., assigner to Metal Textile Corporation, WestOrange, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Appunti June' s. 1937, semi No.146,235

j ments in scouring devices for surface cleansing y scraping action.

' work; and the invention has reference, more pariicularly, to a novelconstruction of device capable of producing, in use, a combined brushingand This invention has for an object to provide .a

scouring device or implement comprising, a bristle brush member of anysuitable shape and size, and having a bristle structure composed of anydesired kind of bristle material, in combination with which is provided,for overlying disposition relative to bristle extremities, an abrasivecovering composed of flexible knitted metallic mesh, whereby, in use,the bristle ends may project through the openings of the metallic meshcover so as to engage the surface, vto which the implement is applied,with brushing or scratching action, while the mesh material at the sametime exerts a scraping action upon the surface engaged.

y Another object of the invention is to provide a combined bristle brushand metallic mesh cover therefor to produce a scouring implement of thekind mentioned, wherein the metallic mesh cover is so related to thebrush body as to be capable of shifting adjustment relative to thebristle end surface thereof, so as to replace worn or frayed meshportions with unwom or new mesh portions, and thus conveniently prolongthe useful lifeof the mesh element of the implement.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularlyenumerated, will be understood from the following detailed descriptionof the same.

Illustrative embodiments of this invention are shown in theaccompanyingdrawing, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the operative face of one form of the novelscouring device made according to this invention; Fig. 2 is a.- sideelevation of the device with the metallic mesh cover schematically shownin section.

Fig. 3 vis a plan of a preferred form of knitted lmetallic mesh fromwhich the brush cover member of the device is made.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of another form of the device with themetallic mesh cover schematically shown in section.v

lSimilar characters of reference are employed in all of the hereinabovedescribed views, to indcate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawing, in an illustrative form of the novel scouringdevice, as shown in Figs. 1 'and 2 thereof, lthe reference character IIIindicates the body or back of a brush element, the same having, ifdesired, a handle member I I suitably secured thereto and extendingtherefrom. Suitably mounted in or secured to the bodyy or back I arebristle tufts or bodies I2 arranged to project from a face thereof.'I'he 5 claim. (ci 15-111) bristle tufts or bodies may comprise suitablygrouped bunches of bristles, as shown, or the bristles may be arrangedto present a more or less continuous bristle surface, all as well knownto those skilled in the brush making art. The bristles may be made ofanimal or vegetable material or of metal, as may be deemed best suitedfor any specific use.

Combined with the brush element, and so related thereto as to have anactive portion thereof disposed in overlying relation to the bristlesurface of said brush element, is a cover element I3 of metallicabrasive interstitial material, through the intersticesof which the freebristle ends may project for contact with a surface over which thedevice is operatively moved in use, whereby, not only the brushingaction of the bristles is effective upon said surface, butsimultaneously therewith the abrasive scraping action of the metallicmaterial is also effective upon. said surface.

In a preferred form thereof, the cover element I3 comprises a metallicmesh material obtained by knitting or otherwise suitably fabricatingmetallic strands or wires. In.Fig. 3 I have shown the metallic meshmaterial in the form of a fabric knitted from flat, ribbonlike metallicwire I4, but wires or strands of other than iiat rectangularcross-sectional shapes may also be used if desired. A knitted metallicfabric of the kind shown in Fig. 3 is deemed well adapted forcombination with the bristles of the brush element since it not onlyprovides the openings or interstices I5 through which the bristle endsmay reach the surface to which the scouring device is applied in use,but by reason of the ribbon-like form of the strand, the interlinkedloops formed in the knitting of the same provide, in the finishedfabric, a. multiplicity of sharp and chisel-like edges, whereby thedesired scraping or abrading action is attained as the fabricaccompanies the movement of the bristles when the device is rubbed backand forth over the surface desired to be scoured and cleaned by itsaction thereon. The projecting chisel-like edges of the fabric, formedby the bends of the interlinked knitted loops thereof, operate toquickly scrape away substances which maybe encrusted upon the surfacevbeing cleaned, while the bristle ends sweep off the loosened particlesand further tend to also penetrate and loosen up such encrustedsubstances. It will be therefore obvious that the combined action of thebristles and scraping edgesvof the metallic fabric cover element, willeiTect a. very rapid, eiiicient and thorough cleaning action, verysuperior to that which might be effected by either the bristle action orthe fabric action when these materials act alone.

In the arrangement of the cover element I3, when combined with the brushelement as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the cover element may be made in theVform of .a sleeve adapted to be slid over the brush element, with theouter end closed and suitably secured at I6, and the inner end gatheredaround the handle member II, and secured by a suitable encircling tieIT. As shown, the metallic abrasive mesh element I3 provides a singleoperative facing layer I8 overlying the bristles I I.

It will be understood, however, that a plurality of mesh layers may beso arranged, if desired.

bristle ends through the confines of the mesh interstices operates tosupport the bristle ends in action, so as to effectively guard the sameagainst tendency to be easily broken olf, deformed or quickly Worn down;and in this connection it may also be noted that the working of thebristles through the interstlces, formed by the interlinked loops of theknitted metallicv fabric, operates to keep the mesh freed fromaccumulations of dirt and foreign matter which i's loosened vandremovedfrom a surface subjected to the cleaning and scouring action ofthe device in use.

Referring to Fig. 4, another illustrative form of the novel scouringdevice according to this invention is shown. In this form, the brushelement comprises a cylindrical bristle body I9, which is provided witha handle member 20. 'Ihe cover element comprises the metallic meshmaterial, and is provided in the form of a sleeve composed of aplurality of layers of said mesh. In the illustration, two such layersare shown, viz. an inner layer 2| and an outer layer 22, but it will beunderstood that the number of layers may exceed two if desired. 'I'hesleeve is preferably of a length exceeding the length of the bristlebody I9, and its inner end portion 23 is gathered around the handlemember 20 and secured by slide rings 24. By reason of this arrangement,when theouter layer becomes Worn or frayed, the slide rings 24 may beslid back to release the mesh material so that the same can be removedfrom the bristle body I9, then turned inside out, and replaced upon thelatter and again secured by the slide rings-24. By so doing 'a freshportion of the cover element is brought into cooperative relation to thebristle body I9.

It will be understood that the forms of the brush element abovedescribed are but illustrative, and that the size, shape and structuralmakeup of the brush element is subject to wide variation. Inasmuch asthe metallic mesh cover element is highly exible, it can readily be madeto conform to any desired shape of brush element; and, furthermore, dueto the iiexibility of the mesh cover element, the surface of the samewill also readily conform to the contours of the surface to which thedevice is applied in the cleaning thereof.

When the device is used for cleansing operations wherein the device isfrequently dipped in water, the brush element will take up and hold aconsiderable amount of flushing water, as it is exuded through the meshcover element, will aid in rinsing out the latter and flushing away anyaccumulations therein of dirt or foreign matter caught therein duringthe scraping action thereof.

In many cleaning operations, a strong soapyv solution is desired to'beused, and in such character of Aoperation it hasbeen found that the meshcover element is of advantage since it tends to hold within the devicefor a longer period of time a goodly supply of the soapy solution, forthe reason that the interstices of the mesh being horizontal thesolution tending toquickly drain from the vertical bristles is caughtand held longer by said mesh interstices. As already intimated manychanges or variations of the combined bristle and metallic meshstructure are possible, and many apparently different embodiments ofthis invention could be mader without departingfrom the scope thereof asdefined by the following claims. It is therefore intended that allmatter contained in the above description orqshown in the accompanyingdrawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

1. A scouring device comprising, a brush element and -a cover .elementof metallic mesh overlying the bristle face of said brush element and-through the interstices of which the bristle ends may work inconjunction with the abrasive effect of the mesh when the device isapplied to a surface to be scoured. Y

2. A scouring device comprising, a brush element and a cover element ofabrasive mesh fabric knitted from metallic wire, said mesh fabric beingdisposed with portions thereof overlying the bristle face of said brushelement, whereby the bristle ends my project through the interstices ofsaid mesh fabric tov effect a brushing action in conjunction with ascraping action bysad mesh fabric when the device is applied to asurface to be scoured.

3. A scouring device comprising, a brush element and a cover element ofabrasive mesh fabric knitted from metallic wire of Vangularcrosssection, said mesh fabric 'providing by its interlinked loops amultiplicity of chisel-like elements,

.said meshy fabric being secured to the brush element and having aportion thereof disposed in overlying relation to the bristle face ofthe latter, whereby the bristle ends may project through the intersticesof said mesh fabric to effect a bushing action in conjunction with thescraping action effected by the chisel-like elements of said mesh fabricwhen the device is applied to a surface to be scoured.

4. A scouring device as defined in claim 2, wherein said cover elementpossesses an area in excess of the bristle area of the brush element,and wherein means are provided to releasably secure said cover elementin operative associated relation the bristle area of said brush elementand subject to shiftable adjustment relation to the latter foroperatively associating selected portions of the mesh fabric thereofwith the bristle face of the brush element.

5. A scouring device as defined in claim 2, wherein said cover elementcomprises a plurality of superposed plies of the metallic mesh fabric.

ALFRED M. GOODLOE.

